Elevating apparatus



March 10, 1953 J. A. KROLL ET AL 2,631,008

ELEVATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2, 1950 5 Sheets..s l

John ,4

AT TO EYS- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. John A.Krol Z George M.5m1thATTORNEYS.

J. A. KROLL ET AL ELEVATING APPARATUS March 10, 1953 Filed Sept. 2, 1950Patented Mar. 10, 1953 ELEVATING APPARATUS John A. Kroll, Milwaukee, andGeorge M. Smith,

Grafton, Wis, assignors to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., acorporation of New York Application September 2, 1950, Serial No.182,968

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to elevating apparatus for erectingstorage structures, such as silos and gas tanks.

The object of the invention is to provide elevating apparatus forerecting storage tanks or structures whereby the various sections of thetanks or structures are substantially joined to one another successivelyat ground level and are then raised by the apparatus of the invention tothe location they will occupy in the finished structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide elevating apparatus forerecting metal storage tanks of considerable height without having toresort to costly and time consuming scaffolding.

Another object is to provide elevating apparatu's to be utilized inerecting metal storage tanks in which the uppermost section, includingthe top, is first assembled at ground level and is then raised by theapparatus of the invention a suificient height so that the adjacentlower section may then be assembled at ground level and joined to thepreceding section. The elevating apparatus of the invention is utilizedto raise from ground level, and successively, all previously formedsections as a unit, until a structure of desired height is accomplished.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully set forth inthe following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the elevating apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central elevational view of the aping apparatus secured tothe foundation of the structure;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a partly erected storage structureshowing five assembled horizontal sections of a normal seven-sectionsilo structure;

Fig. 5 is a View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a plate utilized in raising thecylindrical sections of the silo;

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line ll of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the attachment andsealing of the lowermost shell section to the foundation.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application. Serial No.150,496, filed March 18, 1958, which issued August 5, 1952, to PatentNo.

Briefly the invention which is here described in connection with theerection of a glass lined silo or storage structure, comprises aplurality of interconnected elevating screw-jacks which may becircumferentially spaced within the interior of the silo and whichcontemplates the utilization of a plurality of nut housings each havinga plate secured thereto. The plates are removably and successivelysecured to the lower portion of each cylindrical section of the silo,one at each vertical seam; The nut housings are caused to travel as aunit either upwardly or downwardly along vertically disposed screwswhich are rotated from a source of power located within the structurewhich is being fabricated and erected.

According to the invention the foundation 1 of the silo is generally ofpoured concrete which extends into the ground for an appreciable depth.The floor 2 of the foundation is elevated from the outer circumferenceto provide a ledge 3' around the outer circumference of substantialwidth upon which the structure is supported. Anchor bolts 4 are spacedabout ledge 3 and are securely anchored in the foundation when it ispoured. These bolts are utilized in the erection of the structure andalso to hold the completed assembly in place, as will be described.

The foundation is provided with a generally rectangular shaped trough 5which'extends from the outer circumference to substantially the middleof the foundation. Generally the trough is utilized for the reception ofa bottom unloading mechanism for delivery of stored silage to theoutside of the silo. For the purposes of this invention however, trough5 is used during erection of the silo as a base to receive the motivepower to operate a plurality of screw-jacks '5 for raising successivelythe cylindrical sections of the structure.

The screw-jacks 6 are equally spacedcircumferentially around the floor 2of the foundation and are removably secured to the ledge c of thefoundation in any suitable manner. Each screwjack assembly consists of alower housing 7 which is provided with a flange 8 at the bottom thereof.The flange is provided with threaded apertures for the reception ofscrew 9. Hold-down brackets ll! of generallyZ-shape are utilized toremovably secure the screw-jacks where desired, the horizontal-legs ofbrackets It being secured to the flange 8, and to the ledge 3' of thefoundation by screwsll and bolts 4, respectively. Bolts H which arethreaded into the lower flangeof bracket lllm'ay be used to level thebracket with respect to the housing 7 and its attendant flange 8. Bolts12 are thrcadedly secured at the inner edge of flange 8 and serve tolevel the jack assemblies relative to the floor of the foundation.

Column I3 is secured to the top of housing 1 and is provided at itsupper end with a cap member 14, suitably apertured to provide a bearingfor a screw which will be hereinafter described. The inner end l5 of thecap is beveled and is provided with a threaded aperture l6 for thereception of bolt I! which secures stay brace i8 to the beveled innerend surface [5.

Housin member 1 is open at the inner side thereof to receive bearing I9.Screw member having its lower end unthreaded, is rotatably disposedwithin bearing [9. The upper end of screw 20 is likewise unthreaded and.is journaled in the aperture provided in cap M. The extreme lower end ofscrew 20 is keyed to a sprocket 2|, which when rotated, turn screw 20.

Nut housing 22 encircles column l3 and is provided at its top with abracket 23 which supports a plate 24 threadedly apertured for thereception of bolts to removably secure the lapped ends of two adjoiningsections of the silo to plate 24 during erection of the silo. Plate 24is curved to conform generally with the silo wall and is provided with aplurality of vertically and horizontally disposed apertures to receivesecuring means such as bolts, as will be hereinafter explained. Theouter face of plate 24 is provided with suitable non-abrasive material25 as indicated by the speckled surface in Fig. 6 so that no injury willoccur to the glass lined plates of the silo during erection.

The inner portion of nut housing 22 is threaded t for engagement withscrew 20 which it encircles. When screw 20 is rotated, housing 22 willbe either raised or lowered and the plates of the silo attached to theplate 24 will be moved correspondingly.

of the silo while the upper or first cylindrical wall section is beingassembled therewith. Other types of supports may be used for thispurpose.

The lower end of each brace I8 of the respective jacks 6 i removablysecured to brackets integral with plate 26 to brace the jacks inservice.

. Motor 3! which is supported within 9, suitable frame 32, is removablysecured within trough 5 of the foundation. The motor drives a verticallydisposed shaft through a reduction gearing, the shaft having a drivesprocket 33 at the upper end thereof. As shown in Fig. l endless chain34 connects the drive sprocket 33' with the plurality of sprockets 2i sothat nut housings 22 of each jack 6 may be raised or loweredsimultaneously.

In using the elevating apparatus of the invention the top of the silo isformed by securing a plurality of segmental shaped plates together, theedges of which overlap. A suitable waterproofing means such as mastic orthe like, not shown, is

disposed between the overlapping edges of all plates which are used inthe fabrication of the structure to seal the joints against air andmoisture. A circumferential flange 35 depends from the lower edge ofeach segmental plate and serves as a joining member between the top andthe shell of the structure. In assembling the unit the top is disposedover support 29 and rests on cap 30 at a height above the foundation topermit the forming of the uppermost section of the shell therebeneath.

The next step is to join a plurality of plates together to complete thefirst or uppermost section of the shell. This is done by joining theplates end-to-end by vertically securing the overlapping edges to formthe circular section. The nut housings 22, which are then in theirlowered position, are initially leveled up relative to one another byindividual rotation of the screws 26.

With the nut housings 22 in this position, the plates 24, which aresecured to the brackets 2.3 of the nut housings, will be disposedadjacent the lower edge of the cylindrical section where the right-handseries of vertically spaced bolt holes, extending through the plates 2%,are utilized to secure the plates of the wall section thereto. Screwsare disposed in the vertically spaced bolt holes from the bottom of thewall plates to substantially the mid-portion of the wall section.However, the lowermost holes in the vertical seams are not used at thisparticular time, thereby permitting the lowest circumferentiallydisposed holes to be utilized in attaching the next lower cylindricalsection.

A fine adjustment of each mounting plate 25 can be obtained by adjustingset screws 36 which are threaded vertically through the bracket 23 uponwhich each plate 24 is mounted. A pair of set screws 36 are employedwith each bracket for vertical adjustment or separate adjustment of eachside of the bracket.

Chain 34 is then placed in position to mesh with drive sprocket 33 andthe several sprockets 2| secured to the screws 20. The motor 3| isstarted and rotates the screws 20 to raise the nut housings threadedthereon and thus elevate the uppermost shell section to the desiredheight, which in this instance will be adjacent to the flange 35depending from the cover of the struc ture. The upper section is thensecured circumferentially to the cover section and the cover of the silotogether with the upper section is elevated a distance sufiicient forthe assembly therebeneath of the second shell section.

The second section and all succeeding sections are formed in a similarmanner. With the upper part of the structure elevated sufiiciently, thetop edges of a plurality of side plates are secured circumferentially tothe lower circumferential edge of the upper section while at the sametime the plates are secured together vertically throughout substantiallythe upper half of their entire depth. Bolts are used as a securing meansand a few of these adjacent the lower edge are omitted in the verticalseam at this time to permit the plates 24 of nut housings 22 to besubsequently secured thereto. The lower edge of the second section whenformed, will be disposed above the foundation for a relatively shortheight. Wooden blocks 31 are spaced around the foundation under theshell sections and upon running the housings 22 downwardly shortdistance, the lower edge of the second shell section is permitted torest upon the wooden blocks 31. Housings 22 are then disengaged andlowered to the bottom edge of the second section where plates 24 areagain secured vertically to the second section. The nut housings 22 areagain run up on their respective jacks 5 to elevate the section.

With reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will be noted that thevertical bolted joints which join the plates end-to-end to form asection are slightly offset from an adjacent joint of the section aboveor below the same. Provision is made so that the plates 24 of the nuthousings 22 may be temporarily secured vertically for elevating purposesto each shell section with the bolt holes of each shell section oifsetfrom an adjacent section. As explained above, plates 25 are curved toconform generally with the curvature of the plates of the structure. Theplates 24 are provided with a series of horizontally and verticallyspaced apertures to receive bolts or the like for temporarily securingeach shell section thereto for elevating the same.

As an example, if the housing plates 24, as shown in Fig. 4, are securedvertically to the plates of the fourth cylindrical section from the top,and the upper edge of the fifth section is circumferentially secured tothe lower edge of the fourth section, the nut housings would be run downto permit the lower edge of the fifth cylindrical section to rest uponthe wooden blocks 3! to temporarily support the structure. The plates 24are then disengaged from the plates of the fourth section, and the nuthousings run down to adjacent the lower edge of the fifth section forsecuring the plates 24 thereto. In temporarily securing plates 2% to thefifth section, it is necessary to insert bolts in the series ofvertically spaced apertures to the left of those used for the fourthsection. This may be readily done because the plates 25 are providedwith the requisite series of vertical apertures to accommodate thevertical apertures in the plates of L- each succeeding wall section.

The vertical seams of the cylindrical sections are oiiset to the leftsuccessively in each section from the top to the bottom of thestructure. The vertical seams of the respective cylindrical sections maybe in staggered relationship to one another, offset to the right, oralignment vertically.

All necessary bolts are secured whenever needed as the structureprogresses. This procedure is repeated until the desired number of.sections have been elevated to form the structure.

After the lowermost shell section of the completed wall is bolted inplace to the adjacent section above, the jack hold-down brackets iii areremoved and replaced by an angle iron ring 38 which extendscircumferentially around the silo at ledge 3 of the foundation and issecured thereto by use of bolts 4. As shown by the sectional view inFig. 8 nuts 38 engage angle ring 3% beneath and above the ring to levelthe silo if necessary. lhe lowermost section of the silo shell is boltedto the vertical flange of ring 35 by circumferentially spaced bolts 46.Concrete ii is disposed beneath ring 353 and a mastic d2, suitable forsealing purposes, is lodged between the ring and door 2 or thefoundation to seal the joint thereloetween.

After erection of the structure is completed the elevating mechanism isremoved from the interior of the structure through an opening in thelower section which later serve as an opening for a door in the lowersection.

The invent-ion provides elevating apparatus for erecting a storagestructure, such as a silo, in which the assembling of the cylindricalshell sec 'tions from flat sheet may be done in the field withoutnecessitating the nesting of the sections prior to successivelyelevating the sections to the position they will occupy in the finishedstructure. The simultaneous use of a plurality of interconnestedelevating screw-jacks which have first been leveled assures that thevarious sections of the structure will be positioned as desired. Theapparatus of the invention also makes unnecessary the use of timeconsuming and costly scaffolding in that the elevating means is operatedfrom ground level to raise successively the cylindrical sections of thesilo to the position each will ultimately occupy.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope ofthe following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoined"sections, which comprises. a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks, a lifting head associated with eachsaid jack, means for securing said lifting heads to the cylindricalsections, means interconnecting said screw-jacks, and means to drivesaid interconnecting means to raise or lower the cylindrical sections bythe simultaneous raisin or lowerin of said lifting heads.

2. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adioinedsections, which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screi Jacks, each said iacla comprising a ve'tically disposed column, an elongated screw disposed in parallelrelationship to said column, a lifting head threadedly engaged with saidscrew, means for securing said lifting heads to the cylindricalsections, means intercon nesting said screw-jacks, and means to drivesaid interconnecting means to raise or lower the lifting headssimultaneously.

3. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks, a lifting head associated with eachsaid jack and having a plural-- ity of series of vertically alignedapertures extending therethrough to receive means to removably securethe cylindrical sections to the lifting head, removable securin meansdisposed in a series of said apertures, means interconnecting saidscrew-iacks, and means to drive said interconnecting means tosimultaneously raise and lower the lifting heads. 1

4. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks; each said jack comprising a verticallydisposed column, an elongated screw disposed in parallel relationship tosaid column, a nut encircling said column and being threadedly engagedwith the screw, and lifting head secured tothe nut, means for securingsaid lifting heads to the cylindrical sections; means interconnectingsaid screw-jacks, and means to drive said interconnecting means to raiseor lower the lifting heads simultaneously.

5. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, which comprises a plurality or circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screwejacks; each said jack comprising a verticallydisposed column, an elongated screw disposed in parallel relationship tosaid column, a nut encircling said column and being threadedly engagedwith the screw, and a assume lifting head secured to the nut, and havinga plurality of series of vertically aligned apertures extendingtherethrough to receive means to remova'bly secure the cylindricalsections to the lifting head, and removable securing means disposed in aseries of said apertures; means interconnecting said screw-jacks, andmeans to drive said interconnecting means to simultaneously raise orlower the lifting heads.

5. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoined platesections whose plates are provided with vertically aligned aperturesadjacent the side edges thereof, which comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vertically disposed screw-jacks, a lifting headassociated with each screw-jack and having a plurality of verticallyaligned apertures extending itherethrough, securing means disposed inthe apertures of said lifting head and the apertures of adjacent plateswhen the side edges of the plates are overlapped, means interconnectingsaid screw-jacks, and means to drive said interconnecting means to raiseor lower the lifting heads simultaneously.

7. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having a topand a plurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections the lowermost of which is secured circumferentially to thefloor of a foundation struc ture, which comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vertically disposed screw-jacks, a platecentrally disposed and remova oly secured to said foundation and havinga verticallydisposed socket extending upwardly from said plate,

a support disposed in said socket and extending therefrom to the topduring formation and securing of the upper cylindrical section to thetop, a lifting head associated with each said jack, means for securingsaid lifting heads successively to the cylindrical sections, meansinterconnecting said screw-jacks, and means to drive saidinterconnecting means to raise or lower the lift ing heads.

8. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having a topand a plurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections the lowermost of which is secured circumferentially to thefloor of a foundation structure, which comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vertically disposed screw-jacks, a platecentrally disposed and removably secured to said foundation and having avertically disposed socket extending upwardly from said plate,

a support disposed in said socket and extending therefrom to the topduring formation and securing of the upper cylindrical section to thetop, radially disposed braces removably secured to and extending fromthe upper end of said screw-jacks to said plate and being removablysecured to the latter, a lifting head associated with each jack, meansfor securing said lifting heads successively to the cylindricalsections, means interconnecting said screw-jacks and means to drive saidinterconnecting means to raise or lower the lifting heads.

9. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, a top, and a foundation therefor having an upstanding outercircumferential ledge to which the lowermost section of the structure issecured which comprises aplurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks adapted to be disposed within thestructure during fabrication and erection of the same; a lifting headassociated with each of said jacks, means for securing said liftingheads to the cylindrical sections, means interconnecting saidscrew-jacks, and means to drive said interconnecting means to raise orlower the cylindrical sections, said screw-jacks having a stroke topermit the lowermost of the sections to be lowered to a position whereit encircles the foundation ledge so that the latter may be securedthereto.

10. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, a top, and a foundation therefor having an upstanding outercircumferential ledge to which the lowermost section of the structure issecured which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks adapted to be disposed within thestructure during fabrication and erection of the same, each said jackcomprising a vertically disposed column, an elongated screw disposed inparallel relationship to said column, a lifting head threadedly engagedwith said screw, means for securing said lifting heads to the innersurfaces of the cylindrical sections, means interconnecting saidscrew-jacks and means to drive said interconnecting means in onedirection to raise the lifting heads and in the opposite direction tolower the lifting heads to permit the lowermost section when attached 0the heads to encircle the foundation ledge so that said section may beattached thereto.

11. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, a top, and a foundation therefor having an upstanding outercircumferential ledge to which the lowermost section of the structure issecured which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks adapted to be disposed within thestructure during fabrication and erection of the same; a plate centrallydisposed and removably secured to said foundation and having avertically disposed socket extending upwardly from said plate, a supportdisposed in said socket and extending therefrom to the top of thestructure to support the same during formation and securing of the uppercylindrical section to the top, radially disposed braces removablysecured to and extending from the upper end of said screw-jacks to saidplate and being removably secured to the latter, a lifting headassociated with each of said jacks, means for securing said liftingheads to the cylindrical sections, means interconnecting saidscrew-jacks, and means to drive said interconnecting means in onedirection to raise the lifting heads and in the opposite direction tolower the lifting heads to permit the lowermost section when attached tothe heads to encircle the foundation ledge so that said section may beattached thereto.

12. In apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks, a lifting head associated with eachsaid jack, said head comprising a vertically disposed plate formed tothe curvature of the cylindrical sections and provided with a pluralityof apertures disposed. consecutively one above the other and spacedapart to correspond with the spacing of bolt holes in a correspondingvertical seam of the first cylindrical section, a second series ofsimilarly disposed and spaced apertures circumferentially spaced fromsaid first series of apertures a distance corresponding to an offset ofthe vertical seam for the second cylindrical section from the verticalseam for said first section, and additional series of aperturessimilarly disposed to correspond with the offset of the vertical seamsof successive cylindrical sections, means for securing said liftingheads to the cylindrical sections successively from the top section tothe bottom section as the successive sections are applied and raised,means interconnecting said screw-jacks, and means to drive saidinterconnecting means to raise or lower the cylindrical sections.

13. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, a top, and a foundation therefor having an upstanding outercircumferential ledge to which the lowermost section of the structure issecured which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks adapted to be disposed within thestructure and to rest on the circumferential ledge of the foundationduring fabrication and erection of the same; a bracket having 3,depending portion and remov ably secured to the lower end of each jackto support said jack on the foundation, said brackets being removedprior to the disposition of the lowermost section on the foundation, alifting head associated with each of said jacks, means for securing saidlifting heads to the cylindrical sections, means interconnecting saidscrew- Jacks, and means to drive said interconnecting means to raise orlower the cylindrical sections, said screw-jacks having a stroke topermit the lowermost of the sections to be lowered to a position whereit encircles the foundation ledge so that the latter may be securedthereto.

14. Apparatus for erecting storage structures or the like having aplurality of cylindrical vertically disposed successively adjoinedsections, a top, and a foundation therefor having an upstanding .outercircumferential ledge to which the lowermost section of the structure issecured which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedvertically disposed screw-jacks adapted to be disposed within thestructure and to rest on the circumferential ledge of the foundationduring fabrication and erection of the same; means depending from thebase of the screw-jacks and. supporting the jacks on the outercircumferential portion of the foundation, a lifting head associatedwith each said jack, said head comprising a vertically disposed plateprovided with a plurality of apertures disposed consecutively one abovethe other and spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of bolt holesin a corresponding vertical seam of a cylindrical section, means forsecuring said lifting heads to the cylindrical sections successivelyfrom the top section to the bottom section as the successive sectionsare applied and raised, means interconnecting said screw-jacks,

and means to drive said interconnecting means to raise or lower thecylindrical sections simultaneously.

15. Apparatus for erecting vertical structures or the like having aplurality of vertically disposed successively adjoined sectionscontaining perforations, which comprises a plurality of verticallydisposed screw-jacks, means rigidly supportin said screw-jacks with thesame spaced equidistant from a given center corresponding substantiallyto the vertical axis of the structure to be erected, a lifting headassociated with each said jack, means including at least one memberadapted to enter a perforation in the structure to removably securesuccessive sections of said structure to said lifting heads, and commondrive means interconnecting said screw-jacks to raise or lower thesections by the simultaneous raising or lowering of said lifting heads.

16. Apparatus for erecting vertical structures or the like having aplurality of vertically disposed successively adjoined sectionscontaining perforations, which comprises a plurality of verticallydisposed screw-jacks, means rigidly supporting said screw-jacks with thesame spaced equidistant from a given center corresponding substantiallyto the vertical axis of the structure to be erected, a lifting headassociated with each said jack, means including at least one memberadapted to enter a perforation in the structure to removably securesuccessive sections of said structure to said lifting heads, meansdisposed adjacent said jacks to support the structure during lowering ofsaid heads between successive lifting operations, and common drive meansinterconnecting said screw-jacks to raise or lower the sections by thesimultaneous raising or lowering of said lifting heads.

17. Apparatus for erecting vertical structures or the like having aplurality of vertically disposed successively adjoined sections, whichcomprises a plurality of vertically disposed screwjacks, each spaced anequal distance from a given center, a lifting head associated with eachsaid jack, means for securing said lifting heads to the sections, meansinterconnecting said screwjacks, and means to drive said interconnectingmeans to raise or lower the sections by the simultaneous raising orlowering of said lifting heads.

JOHN A. KROLL. GEORGE M. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,839,578 Morton Jan. 5, 19322,184,801 McCarthy Dec. 26, 1939 2,530,807 Campbell Nov. 21, 1950

